The Indianapolis times. [volume], April 01, 1936, Final Home Edition, Page PAGE 3, Image 3

About The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965

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APRIL 1|193_
A.T.&T.MOVES
TO BALK PROBE
PUT IN RECORD
Utility Opposed Inquiries
With Successes for 10
Years, Is Charge.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Ttm* SorcUl Writer
WASHINGTON. April I.—For 10
years the American Telephone and
Telegraph Cos. successfully fought
all efforts of public agencies to in
vestigate it, Federal Communica
tions Commission records disclosed
today.
It blocked a House investigation
proposed by Rep. John O'Connor
<D., N. Y.) in 1926. In 1927 and
subsequent years it blocked a Sen
ate investigation proposed by Sena
tor Hitam Johnson iR., Cal.).
Again in 1931 it opposed an inves
tigation which Senator James Couz
ens (R., Mich.) wanted the Inter
state Commerce Commission to con
duct.
In addition it fought investiga
tions which various Legislatures
proposed to make.
Light Thrown on Methods
Letters and memoranda showing
the methods by which this opposi
tion was carried on were in the
FCC records today, placed there by
Counsel Samuel Becker during ex
amination of Carl M. Bracelon,
General Counsel of A. T. & T.
When the Johnson resolution was
pending before the Senate, the leg
islatures of California, Oregon and
Washington had before them pro
posals that they memorialize Con
gress in favor of the investigation.
In regard to the California me
morial, President Carroll of the Pa
cific Telephone and Telegraph Cos.,
reported to A. T. <te T. headquar
ters in New York that the assembly
committee before which it was
pending “is not a very good one,
and I doubt if we can stop it there.”
He added that if it passed the As
sembly it would be sent to a Senate
Committee “which is a most excel
lent committee,” adding that he had
strong hopes of stopping it there
and that “no stone would be left
unturned.”
Oregon Memorial Defeated
Defeat of the memorial in Oregon
caused messages of congratulation
to pass between officials of the local
and parent companies. Before the
Washington memorial was defeated
there was correspondence about
‘‘some danger that the memorial
will be passed without reference to
the public utility committee.”
When the Couzens resolution
failed of adoption, E. S. Wilson of
(he A. T. & T. reported to Walter
Gifford that “Gentleman Jim from
Michigan used every means he could
think of to get this passed but it
didn't come up for action and just
died.”
At, various times, the record shows,
Wisconsin, Michigan and New Mex
ico Legislatures proposed investiga
tions of their utility commissions,
and in each case the telephone com
panies were opposed. The New Mex
ico Legislature finally appointed a
committee, but its report was not
given to the public.
Grilled on Motives
Mr. Becker put into the record a
memorandum to the A. T. & T. from
Milton Smith, attorney for the
Mountain States Power Cos., stating
that ‘‘from confidential sources our
people learn the report reposes
peacefully in the miscellaneous
files.” These files would be destroyed
at the end of the session, he added.
“Why should the Bell system
oppose or favor resolutions calling
for the investigation of public utility
commissioners?” Mr. Becker asked
Mr. Bracelon.
"There might be very obvious rea
sons," Mr. Bracelon replied. “Having
something to cover up, some collu
sion between the telephone company
and the commission, but on the
other hand when a commission that
is functioning efficiently, known to
be composed of honorable upright
citizens that treat the utilities fairly,
is under political attack, the tele
phone company might properly come
to its defense.” .
BANKERS NAME WARRICK
Local Man Named Vice President
of Central States Group
B;i United Prr **
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS. Mo.,
April 1. —C. W. Wattam of Fargo.
N. D, today headed the Central
States Bankers' Association, mem
bers of which closed their conven
tion here yesterday.
Elected with Wattam were Don
Warrick of Indianapolis and Will
Duncan of Minneapolis, vice presi
dents. Ray Brundage of Detroit
was elected secretary.
Where’s .
—gone to . . ‘
SEVILLE TAVERN
"I always seem to be the
party of the second part,”
sighed George, except at
SEVILLE when I sit on one
side of a platter of good
old-fashioned fried chicken
for two.
A PLATTER OF FRIED
CHICKEN FOR TWO,
75e EACH
7 N. MERIDIAN
It’s Best to Be Ready for Anything,
Because April Fools Hold Sway Today
Eye Those ‘Empty’ Boxes
and Tempting Wallets
With Suspicion.
If your telephone awakened you
early today by its incessant ringing,
and an irritatingly familiar voice
said sweetly. “April Fool.” you don’t
need a calendar to remind you to
day is All Fools’ Day.
The mere sight of April 1 of the
calendar stimulates many otherwise
normal persons to the unfortunate
seasonal vice of practical jokes.
Eddie Brehob (right), operator
of a garage at 218 E. New York-st,
painfully holds his foot after kick
ing aside a box which cluttered up
his front yard. There was a large
brick inside the box placed there by
a prankster.
There are some who, rather than
run the gantlet of practical Joke
sters, will shut up shop and refuse
to answer the telephone or doorbell
today.
Others with names that seem to
provoke the unholy mirth of today's
jesters may even take a trip out of
the city and register as Mr- and
Mrs. Smith.
It’s Origin Is Unknown
No one, not even * the encyclo
pedists, seems to know just how the
whole thing started. Apparently
the day is an outgrowth of Hindu,
Roman and early Christian festi
vals. In France the victim of an
April Fool joke is called an “April
fish, ’ and in Scotland he is dubbed
“a gowk” or “cuckoo.”
With rare wisdom the men who
nave charge of such thing termed
today “All Fools’ Day.”
Modern science has proved a boon
to the jokesters who rely upon the
anonymity of the telephone to mask
their identities. They would be liqui
dated if television became wide
spread.
Strangely enough, the number of
murders doesn’t pick up any on
April 1, and there are few cases on
record of harassed victims going
berserk in hotel lobbies.
What Not to Do
Fortunately for the tempers of
all, April Fools’ Day comes just as
the tension of winter is beginning
to wear off under the mellowing in
fluence o; mild temperatures.
A number of things to avoid to
day are money lying around loose,
old hats on the sidewalk and gifts
from persons who didnt send you
Christmas cards.
Correct procedure today when a
debtor pays you that $5 he has been
owing since St. Michelmas is to tear
it up laughingly and say. “You can’*,
fool me with those jokes on All
Fools' Day.”
If it was a real bill, you still have
the courage of your own convic
tions.
SYMPOSIUM ARRANGED
ON FARM, CONSUMER
Social Advance Forum to Discuss
Problem Tomorrow.
A symposium on “Farm Relief
and the Consumer” is to be con
ducted at 8 tomorrow night at Eu
gene-st and Northwestern-av by the
Social Advance Forum. Willis Gum
mel is chairman. This is the sec
ond of a series of similar forunjg
conducted in the northwestern sec
tion of the city.
Forrest Rogers, secretary of the
Commonwealth Clubs of Indiana,
is to discuss the new farm relief
program and Daniel Stauber of the
Consumers’ League of Marion
County is to talk on consumers’
problems.
PLAN ALUMNI DINNER
Cornell Professor Coming to City
for Series of Talks.
Prof. R. H. Jordan,. Cornell Uni
versity, is to speak at the Indiana
Cornell Alumni Association dinner
tomorrow night at the Columbia
Club. In addition, he is to speak
at Shortridge, Technical and Park
High Schools. Harry Onge John
son. local alumni president, is in
charge of arrangements.
* |h
* f
* ■ V
L. Strauss & Co— The Man's Store
TWO CREDIT SERVICES—The usual 80-day Charge Account—and the
Junior Charge Account that can be taken care of in weekly payments. De
tails courteously extended—-Credit Office — Balcony.
I®
• -V
BEEKEEPERS HOPE
FORJETTER YEAR
Apiarists of 20 Counties to
Discuss Conditions.
Hopeful for a return to a normal
production of honey and an im
proved market this year, beekeepers
in 20 counties are to meet this
month for discussion sessions.
Unfavorable honey producing con
ditions have prevailed in most sec
tions of the state for the last two
years. The 1935 honey crop was
only 50 per cent of normal.
All meetings are to be addressed
by James E. Starkey, chief apiary
inspector. Division of Entomology.
Schedule of meetings follows:
Friday, Shelbyville; Saturday,
Greensburg; April 6, New Albany
and North Vernon; April 9, Madi
son; April 10, Vevay; April 11. Dear
born and Ohio Counties, Aurora;
April 13, Rushville; April 14, Con
nersville; April 15, Richmond; April
16, Liberty; April 17, Brookville,
April 18, Osgood; April 20, Bluff ton;
April 21, Hartford City; April 22,
Franklin, and April 23, Tipton.
WITNESS AIDS VERA’S
SELF-DEFENSE STORY
Arms Expert Says Gebhardt Appar
ently Was Rushing Toward Her.
Bj/ United Press
NEW YORK, April I.—A prosecu
tion witness, suddenly recalled by
the defense, testified today that Dr.
Fritz Gebhardt, German industrial
ist, apparently was rushing toward
Vera Stretz when she fired the first
of four fatal shots into him.
The witness was Merton A. Rob
inson, a ballistics engineer for the
Winchester Repeating Arms Cos., of
New Haven, Conn.
This was one of the most impor
tant pieces of evidence adduced by
the defense in support of its conten
tion that Miss Stretz fired in self
protection.
Only a few minor witnesses re
main to be called. The jury is ex
pected to receive the case tomorrows
Old Tags: Old Car; SlO
Youthful Gene Harris, 1243 S.
Emerson-av, drove blithely down
Emerson-av in an auto of 1927 vin
tage with 1935 license plates and
no driver's license last night.
He was fined $lO today by Mu
nicipal Judge Dewey E. Myers.
Imperial
GABARDINE
Suits for
Gentlemen.
Tailored in
the "Wearington"
manner—Priced
where it's a
pleasure.
*25
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Eddie Brehob
OFFICIAL WEATHER
__lJnited States Weather Hnr.an
Sunrise 5:29 | Sunset fi:o9
TEMPERATURE
—April 1, 1935
7 a. m 39 1 p. m 49
—Today—
6a. m 32 Ift a. m 34
7 a. m 33 11 a. m 34
8 a. m ..33 12 (Noon) . >.. 35
9 a. m 34 1 n. m 37
BAROMETER
7a. m 29.87 Ip. m 29.68^
Precipitation 24 hrs. ending 7a. m . 0
Total precipitation since Jan. 1 e.fio
Deficiency since Jan. 1 3.19
OTHER CITIES AT 7 A. M.
Station. Weather. Bar. Temp.
Amarillo. Tex Clear 29.66 28
Bismarck, N. D Snow 30.24 8
Boston PtCldy 30.06 36
Chicago Snow 30.00 28
Cincinnati Cloudy 29.86 36
Denver Snow 29.94 12
Dodge City. Kas Cloudy 29.84 24
Helena, Mont PtCldy 30.38 —lO
Jacksonville. Fla. ....Cloudy 29.88 68
Kansas City, Mo. ... Snow 29.80 28
Little Rock. Ark Cloudy 29.64 50
Los Angeles Clear 30.10 46
Miami Fla Clear 29.98 76
Minneapolis Cloudy 30.08 18
Mobile. Ala Cloudy 29.76 72
New Orleans Cloudy 29.74 72
New York Clear 30.10 36
Okla. City. Okla PtCldy 29.56 46
Omaha. Neb Snow 29.98 20
Pittsburgh Cloudy 30.00 32
Portland. Ore Snow 30.18 32
San Antonio. Tex. .. Cloudy 29.60 70
San Francisco Cloudy 30.18 46
St. Louis Cloudy 29.78 36
Tampa. Fla Cloudy 29.92 72
Washington. D. C. .. Cloudy 30.10 44
WAR~VETERANS URGED
TO WORK IN CAMPAIGN
V. M. Armstrong Talks on Election
Laws at G. O. P. Meeting.
War veterans are today consider
ing the plea of Forest A. Harness,
attorney, that they participate ac
tively in the coming political cam
paign.
Mr. Harness, speaking at a meet
ing of the Marion County Chapter
of the Republican Veterans of In
diana last night in the Athenaeum
said:
“The veteran has more at stake
in the election than any other citi
zen because he fought to maintain
the American government as it is.”
V. M. Armstrong, former Indiana
Department commander of the
American Legion, discussed elec
tion-law requirements. J. W. Ebaugh
presided.
PWA Worker Dies Suddenly
Earl Ruegamer, 52, a PWA work
er, died suddenly in his home, 444
E. Market-st, early today of heart
disease.
SECOND NEGRO
HIGH SCHOOL IN
CITY DEMANDED
Crispus Attucks Crowded,
Transportation a Burden;
Board Told.
The Board of School Commission
ers today has under consideration
petitions for anew Negro high
school on the East Side.
Led by the Rev. S. S. Reed, rec
tor of the Greater St. John's Bap
tist Church, 1611 E. 17th-st, a dele
gation of 45 Negroes appeared with
the petitions last night at the board
meeting, and complained of crowd
ed conditions in the Northwest Side
Crispus Attucks High School for
Negro pupils.
They also complained that the
cost of transporting pupils for the
far east side was excessive, and in
some cases, prohibitive. There were
45 in the delegation
As their spokesman, Mr. Reed
asked that either anew high school
be constructed, or that School 26
be remodeled into one. He said he
represented the Federation of Com
munity Civic Clubs, the Ministers
Alliance and the Parent-Teacher
Associations of Schools 26, 37 and 56.
Communist Backs Plea
Sol Larks, white representative of
the Communist Party of Indiana, 66
W. New York-st, supported Mr.
Reed’s proposal and said he thought
that Negroes should be allowed to
attend all high schools and that
Negro teachers should be allowed to
teach in all high schools.
The present system sets up unnat
ural barriers, he said. He advocated
the teaching of Negro history and
the enlarging of NYA.
Carl Wilde, president of the
board, asked him if the Negro dele
gation had known beforehand that
he was to appear in support of their
petitions and he said no.
Flonoe Adams, Negro, 2405 Paris
av, representing the Marion County
Christian Youth Council, indorsed
the high school petition and asked
that a study of Negro history be in
cluded in the school curriculum. He
urged the support of the board for
the American Youth Act, now pend
ing before Congress.
Finds Money Plentiful
William A. Haddox, representing
the East Side Civic League, Phil
ander odium, parent of school
pupils, and the Rev. George C.
Crocker, minister at the Negro Or
phans’ Home, all Negroes, spoke in
favor of the new high school.
“The world is full of money,” Mr.
Crocker said, “for projects that
amount to nothing.”
Mr. Wilde said that the petitions
and other suggestions would be
given careful consideration.
Mr. Wilde expressed the board’s
gratification at the report that the
State Tax Board had approved an
additional appropriation of $120,000
for the construction of additions and
remodeling at Schools No. 21 and 44
on March 23.
Greenlee Strikes Again;
McHale, Simmons, Coy
Are His Main Targets
G. 0. P. Is Gleeful Over
Democratic Dissension;
Await Next Speech.
(Continned From Page One)
taches asked. “Who’ll come next?
Does he figure on jumping on the
Republican Party?”
Mr. Greenlee, former secretary to
Gov. McNutt, in his speech in -East
Chicago last night, said:
“McHale-ism stands for special
privilege in permitting Virgil ‘Skits’
Simmons to spend a two-week vaca-
GOOLID6E AID IN
CITY FOR TALK
Former Secretary Hopes to
Take Active Part in
State Campaign.
(Continued From Page One)
didn't know we would nominate
Hughes in 1916 and that’s precisely
the same situation we face today,”
he continued.
“Does that mean a dark horse
may be the Republican candidate?”
he was asked.
“It may be a dark horse, or it
may be one of the number of can
didates now in the field,” he said,
adding:
“I plan to take an active part in
this year's campaign in Indiana, as
I have always in the past, in an
effort to return the state to the
Republican column.’”
Refutes Democratic Claims
Silence greeted the query as to
whether he is one of the prominent
oratorical guns to be turned loose
in Indiana to insure a Republixn
victory.
“I’ll have something to say about
the state Democratic administration
in Terre Haute, whe e I'll speak in
a few days,” he said between lather
ings.
“The Democratic notion that
young people form the bulwark of
their party is a fallacy. The great
er burden of cost of the present
Democratic Administration will set
tle on posterity when it should be
paid by the present generation,” he
declared.
Silent on Own Candidacy
The razot neared the Adam’s
apple as questions of “Who’ll be the
Republican presidential nominee?”
and “What is the Landon and
Borah strength in the Midwest?”
received a guttural “I can’t say,”
or “I wouldn’t are to discuss that.”
“Are you a candidate for any
office?” he was asked.
“I don’t care to be quoted on
that,” he said.
Tonight at 6 Mr. Sanders is to
address a dinner of the Indianap
olis Bar Association at the Colum
bia Club.
DEEP
TONE
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cu i DTC @6
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splendid good fitting collar —button
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Mail Orders Filled
■WV 3 for 4.75
L. STRAUSS and CO.
THE MAN’S STORE
tion in Florida with a state auto
mobile and a chauffeur at the ex
pense of the taxpayers of our state.
The warrants which paid the ex
pense of this Florida jaunt are on
file in the office of the Auditor of
State.
“McHale-ism stands for expendi
tures of fish and game funds in
the Department of Conservation for
the purchase of 746.12 acres of
land in Wells County. Simmons' home
county. . . . McHale-ism stands for
the expenditure of these funds to
talling $23,710.39 paid in by sports
men of the state for fishing and
hunting licenses, not to buy land
but to propagate fish and wild game
in Indiana.
Expands Coy Assault
“McHale-ism stands for the ex
penditure of these funds at the
highest price per acre of all the
thousands of acres of land pur
chased by the conservation depart
ment,” he said.
He broadened his verbal assault
on Wayne Coy. WPA administrator,
by charging “politics" in the states
under Mr. Coy’s control in the
Works Progress division.
“I say let’s have no back room
politics in our party. Let the ma
jority of the Democratic Party
make up its own mind who it wants
for Governor. I will be the first to
abide by the decision,” Mr. Green
lee concluded.
CITY’S CUT OF TAXES
UNFAIR. BOOK CHARGES
Schoolmen’s Club Hears Chamber
of Commerce Executive.
The Indianapolis Schoolmen’s
Club is today pondering charges
made by William H. Book, execu
tive vice president of the Chamber
of Commerce, that Indianapolis is
discriminated against in the dis
tribution of state taxes.
Mr. Book spolce before the club
and its professional and business
men guests last night in the Third
Christian Church. He said In
dianapolis has 13 per cent of the
state’s population, pays 20 per
cent of the total of the three ma
jor taxes, but receives only 6 2-3
per cent in the redistribution.
George S. Olive, president of the
Chamber, described the organiza
tion’s activities. F. H. Gillespie,
Technical High School, presided.
REGISTRATION IS URGED
Branch Offices to Be Open Tomor
row Are Listed
Branch offices open from 10 a. m.
to 10 p. m. for voters’ registration
tomorrow are as follows:
Wm. F. Creagh Pharmacy, 930 N. Penn
sylvania-st.
Fisher’s Pharmacy, 54th-st and College
av.
Carter, The Druggist, 30th-st and Cor
nell-av.
Hamaker Pharmacy. 30th and Talbott
sts.
Blodau Pharmacy. 1602 Boulevard-pi.
Kennedy Drug Store. 4009 Shelbv-st.
Earl's Pharmacy. Carson-av at Trov-av
Potter Cutrate Drugs, 2812 S. Eastern
av.
James L. Simmons, Druggist, East and
Prospect-sts.
PAGE 3
STATE APPEAL
OH CREDIT LAW
IN HIGH COURT
Lutz in Washington loday
to Defend Statute on
Instalment Sales.
BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY
Times Special Writer
WASHINGTON. April I—The
right of a state to regulate the
credit charges on installment sales
of merchandise was to be defended
before the Supreme Court this aft
ernon by Indiana officials.
Last year Indiana's Legislature
decided to put installment credit
under control of the petty loan
division of the state's department
of financial institutions.
It empowered the department to
lay down rules regarding rates and
methods to be used in extending
installment credit. One of the rules
was to require that intelligent in
formation be given the buyer on the
price difference between a cash
sale, ordinary credit and installment
charges.
An injunction was obtained in
Federal Court, Indianapolis. The
three-judge court ruled in favor of
General Motors Acceptance Corp.
and the McHenry Chevrolet Cos„
which sued the state jointly.
Acting for Gov. McNutt, Atty.
Gen. Philip Lutz took an appeal
directly to the Supreme Court.
Today Mr. Lutz and his assistants
were ready to defend the legislation
as within the powers of the stats
under the Constitution.
Lutz Explains Law's Purpose
“This is the first act of that na
ture in the entire United States,”
Mr. Lutz said. "Big business, en
gaged in installment selling, always
has contended that it was not
violating usury laws because its
charges were for credit extension
and not interest rates.
“Surely the state has a right to
regulate any business which may
become inherently dangerous to so
ciety.”
Big Savings Claimed
Officials of the State Department
of Financial Institutions estimated
today that $500,000 has been saved
small borrowers in interest through
departmental regulations since Aug.
1. 1934.
The saving, departmental officials
say, was made by limiting interest
collected on small loans. Prior to
1934, they said, small loans ran for
several years and interest tripled
the amount of the loan.
Under rates now in effect the le
gal maximum interest on a S3OO
loan for three years would be $166,
department officials say. If the in
terest is collected within the three
year period no further interest, is
due.
Police Hunt Wire Thief
Police searched today for a thief
who stole two coils of copper wire,
valued at S3O, from the rear of
4919 University-av last night. Les
lie easier, the owner, reported th
theft to police.